World Heritage Cities Solidarity Cultural Festival 2019

Every September, Vigan City celebrates the World Heritage Cities Solidarity Cultural Festival. This month-long festivity, in solidarity with other World Heritage Cities around the world, aims to strengthen the pride in the city’s history and culture, promote friendship and diversity between countries and serves as a great venue for forging ties and understanding through community’s involvement in the city’s various activities that highlights love for culture, arts and entertainment.

 In Vigan this special day is actually commemorated with week-long festivities aimed at strengthening pride in the history and culture of Vigan. This aim is in keeping with the long-term goal of preserving the 630 heritage structures that date back from the 18th and 19th century. Vigan’s well-preserved Spanish trading town environ has survived the test of time, including bombings during World War II which leveled the major Philippine cities of Baguio, Cebu and Manila. Visitors can start their Vigan heritage solidarity festivities with the Repazzo de Vigan. This is a parade that is participated in by all 39 barangays, specially the students and members of non-governmental organizations. The participants dramatize the Biguenos’ way of life from Spanish time up to the period after World War II while they walk through the designated parade route, accompanied by music. This unique parade experience is followed by the Historia Oral. The Historia Oral is a wonderful opportunity for listeners to learn about Vigan’s history, culture and day-to-day life straight from the mouths of the old, ordinary Vigan folks. Members of the senior citizens’ federation are tapped to share their experience, knowledge and love of their city through story-telling. Grade-school student listeners from Vigan join the historical-literary contest that is held in connection with the Historia Oral.